spiny gherkins

[queen of the cobs]

I found 3 little gherkins on my plant yesterday which is very exciting! They have flowers on the end, rather like a courgette; should I pull them off? I'll want to pick the gherkins soon as I want to pickle them and they are already about 1.5" long. (Hidden amongst the leaves so I didn't notice them. )

They are rather spiny which was a bit of a surprise - do you think the spines will rub off when I wash them?

Right - off to find some nice looking pickling recipes...

[Cutecumber]

You don't need to do anything with the flowers. They will drop off, or you can take them off when you pick the fruit. It's normal for gherkins to be spiny, but a few months in pickling vinegar will sort that out!

[queen of the cobs]

thanks - I wasn't looking forward to eating them!